Clean Shooting Propels Irwin to Tenth in Le Grand Bornand
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by Sara Donatello
Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, WI/Army World Class Athlete Program) raced to her best individual result since December 2023, finishing tenth in the opening race of World Cup 3 in Annecy-Le Grand Bornand, FRA.
Cleaning both shooting stages, Irwin landed just +44.4 back from the victorious Hanna Öberg of Sweden, setting herself up nicely for Saturday’s pursuit. Öberg was joined on the podium by France’s Lou Jeanmonnot, who thrilled the home crowd with a podium finish, and Dorothea Wierer of Italy.
Coming off of two top 20 finishes in Hochfilzen, AUT, Irwin looks to be back in her groove both on skis and on the range. Of the last three individual races, two sprints and a pursuit, Irwin has missed just one standing target, making her 39 for 40, a feat she has never achieved on the international stage.
Irwin is currently the top contender for an Olympic qualification on the women’s side. U.S. Biathlon’s International Competition Committee (ICC) will officially name two women and one man to the Olympic biathlon roster on Sunday. For more information regarding U.S. Biathlon’s Olympic selection criteria, click HERE.
In Saturday’s pursuit, Irwin will be joined by Margie Freed (Apple Valley, MN/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), who raced to 51st in the sprint. Chloe Levins (Williston, VT/Mansfield Nordic Pro) crossed the line in 68th and out of pursuit contention.
